KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — The 11 men who were remanded for allegedly rioting at the Malaysia-Saudi Arabia World Cup qualifying football match will be released this afternoon, police said today.
Shah Alam police chief ACP Shafien Mamat said the courts did not allow an extension of the remand of the Malaysian suspects, who were arrested at the chaotic match at the Shah Alam Stadium Tuesday night that saw flares and fireworks being shot across the field, disrupting the match.
“We’re forced to release them on bail,” Shafien told Malay Mail Online when contacted.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) said earlier today that it was preparing answers to explain the security failure at the incident after national sports commissioner Datuk Zaiton Othman issued them a letter on September 9 with a 14-day deadline to answer.
The 11 suspects are believed to be hardcore local football supporters from Ultras Malaya.
Malaysia suffered last week a shocking 10-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates in another World Cup qualifier game, a result which The Star Online said had prompted the Ultra Malayas to allegedly protest against the FAM.
